Self-loading device for shaker conveyors



J. H. HOLSTEIN SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS Filed June 21, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet} III Jan. 27, 1948, J. H. HOLSTE IN SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mar Filed June 21, 1946 #Holsl Jan. 27, 1948.

J. H. HOLSTEIN SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21 '1946 Jan.27, 1948. HtHoLsTElN I 2,435,139

SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS Filed June 21, 1946' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A pm 7% a 7. @841 wowngg Patented Jan. 27, 1948 SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS John H. Holstein, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,378

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in selfloading devices for shaker conveyors of the type utilized for picking up coal, rock or the like from the ground in mines.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a novel and compact form of draft device mounted beneath the extensible and reciprocating troughs of a shaker conveyor trough line for moving said troughs laterally about a swivel in the trough line and including a single flexible draft member adapted to be secured at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, together with an improved form of power drive means for moving said troughs along said draft member and an improved means for maintaining tension on the slack side of said draftmember during movement of the troughs along said draft member and compensating for angular movement of said troughs with respect to said draft member.

This and other objects of my invention will more clearly appear as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a loading device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the forward end of the loading device with certain parts of the extensible and reciprocating troughs broken away and certain parts of the draft device shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the loading device with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the draft device with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially horizontal section, in order to show certain details of the drive to the sprockets for moving the loading device along the flexible draft member;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectional view showing certain details of one of the clutches for the draft device;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of Figure 5; and

Figure 9 .is a fluid diagram showing the fluid connections for operating the draft device and maintaining tension on the slack side of the flexible draft member.

In the drawings the embodiment of my invention illustrated therein includes generally an extensible trough [0 having a pick-up member or shovel II on its forward end, slidably supporting the forward end of said extensible trough on the ground. The rear end of said extensible trough is supported above the ground on a ground-engaging shoe l2 in a manner similar to that shown and described in a prior patent to Ernst R. Bergmann, Re. 21,027, and no part of my present invention so not herein shown or described in detail.

The extensible trough l 0 has two bearing plates [3, l3 which extend along its upper outer edges and form a supporting means for the forward end of a reciprocating trough l5 between a pair of vertically spaced supporting and guide rollers l6, 16 mounted on each side of said trough (see Figure 3). Said supporting and guide rollers are mounted on opposite upright sides I1, I! of a supporting frame l9, projecting above the top of said reciprocating trough. Said supporting frame is secured to and extends forwardly of and across the bottom and upwardly along opposite sides of said reciprocating trough.

The bearing plates l3, l3 are also adapted to be engaged by friction grip blocks 20, 2B of a friction grip feeding device 2|, during alternate strokes of the conveyor, for extensibly or retractibly moving said extensible trough with respect to said reciprocating trough, or for reciprocably moving said extensible and reciprocating troughs together. Said friction grip feeding device is clearly shown and described in a companion application Serial No. 678,379, filed herewith, and is no part of my present invention so need not herein be shown or described in detail. The reciprocating trough I5 is connected to and reciprocably driven from the shaker conveyor trough line through an articulated trough connection or swivel 23. Said swivel is so arranged as to form a means for controlling lateral movement of said reciprocating and extensible troughs and to permit the continuous flow of material along said reciprocating trough and swivel to the outby end of the trough line, when said reciprocating and extensible troughs are in various positions of lateral displacement with respect to the trough line. Said swivel is no part of my present invention except insofar as it connects the reciprocating trough with the conveyor trough line and forms a pivotal reaction member for said reciprocating and extensible troughs, so will not herein be shown or described in detail.

The reciprocating trough I discharges into and is connected at its rear end to a connecting trough 24 of the swivel 23. Said connecting trough is mounted .at its rear .end on a shoe 25 and is nested in and pivotally connected to the receiving end of an intermediate trough 2B. "Said shoe is spaced forwardly from and is pivotally connected to a stationary base 2! for lateral movement with respect thereto adongzthegground, as in Patent No. 2,347,074, which issued to E. R. Bergmann on April 18, 1944. .Said stationary base is adapted to be held in hxedrelation with respect to the ground during operation of the conveyor by means of suitable jacks or the lke (not shown) interposed between said base and the mine roof.

An elongated supporting and guide frame 29 is connected at .its rear end to the shoe 25 for movement therewith about the base 21, and extends beneath the "reciprocating trough to a point beyond the forward end thereof. Said frame is held from reciprocation during operation of the conveyor by the shoe 2%: and base 21 and forms a non-reciprocating reaction and guide means for the extensible and reciprocating troughs 1B and 15, for laterally moving said troughs "with respect to the stationary base 2-! of the swivel 23 along 'a flexible draft member 38, upon lateral movementof sa-id frame.

Two laterally spaced longitudinally extending guide tracks 33., 33 are mounted-on and extend along opposite outer sides of the forward portion of the frame 29, and beyondth-e forward end of said frame and forwardly along opposite sides of a floating frame 8 i, which forms afor-ward extension of said frame '29. Said guide tracks have recessed substantially V-shaped engaging faces, which are adapted toibe engaged by the *V-shaped engaging faces of rollers 35, 35. Said rollers are rotatably mounted on vertical shafts 85, 35, mounted at their ends in bifurcatedbracketmembers :31, 31, extending inwardly from the side walls Fl, ll of the frame i9, for supporting the forward end of said non-reciprocating frame above the ground.

The floating frame 3| is pivotally connected to the forward end of the non-reciprocating frame 29 on transversely extending pivotal pins an, 4! and is adapted to have floating engagement with the ground at its forward end. Said pivotal pins extend through opposite forward end portions of said non reciprocating frame and through lugs 4|, 4.I projecting rearwardly from opposite sides of said floating frame and interleaved'by said forward end portions of said non-reciprocating frame. Said floating frame forms a floating support for the draft means for moving the extensible trough i0 and reciprocating trough '15 along the flexible draft member 30, and .is so arranged that tension of said draft member will hold the forward end of said frame in engagement with the ground, in the manner shown and described in application Serial No. 640,875., filed by E. R. Bergmann on January 12, 1946, which has matuned into Patent No. 2,425,078, August .5, 1942.7, and no part of my present invention.

The means for moving the extensible and reciprocating troughs along the flexible draft member 30 and for holding said troughs in various fixed positions along said draft member includes two laterally spaced sprocket wheels 42, 42, disposed at opposite sides of the floating frame 3], adjacent its forward end. 'Said flexible draft member is herein shown as being a well known form of link chain meshing with and extending laterally from each of said sprockets. The bight of said draft member between said sprockets is engaged by a tension idler 43 disposed rearwardly of said sprockets. Said tension idler is mounted on the end of .a piston rod -44 extending from a piston 94 mounted within a fluid cylinder 45, and .is urged by fluid under pressure entering the head end of said cylinder in a direction to maintain tension on the slack side of said chain and also to compensate for changes in length of said draft .member caused by angular movement of said extensible trough with respect to said chain.

One of said sprockets forms a means for moving said frame and troughs along said draft device in one direction while the other sprocket on the slack side of said chain rotates freely. Said sprockets are herein shown as being driven from a fluid motor 5| and the drive to each of said sprockets is substantially the same, with the exception that one sprocket is adapted to be driven in one direction only while the other sprocket is adapted to be driven in a direction opposite to which the first sprocket is adapted to be driven, upon reversal of said motor 5!, so the drive "to one of said sprockets only will herein be described in detail.

The sprocket 42 keyed on a vertical shaft 46, journaled at its lower end in a bottom plate 41 of said floating frame and extending upwardly therefrom (see Figure 4). Said shaft is journaled just above the upper side of said sprocket in a bottom wall 48 of a housing and support frame for the gearing, for driving said sprockets 42, 42 from the motor 51. A spur gear 49 mounted in said housing coaxial with saidshaft has selective driving connection with said shaft through a jaw clutch 50, which is so arranged as to drive said shaft and sprocket when said motor rotates in one direction and to permit said sprocket to rotate freely when the direction of rotation of said motor is reversed. The jaw clutch 5i] includes an enlarged annular formation on the upper end of said shaft which has serrated clutch jaws .54, 54 formed on its .top side. Said clutch jaws are adapted to be engaged by corresponding serrated clutch jaws 55, .55 formed in the bottom surface of an inner annular portion 55 of a drive member 51 (see Figure 7) Said drive member is splined on the inner periphery of the rim of the spur gear 49. Said clutch jaws 54 and 55 are so formed that one face extends at a relatively steep angle while the other face extends at a flatter angle. The flat angled faces of said clutch jaws are so inclined that the-clutch will-disengage itself when the drive member '51 is rotating in a direction to drivingly engage said flat angled faces with each other. The faces of the clutch jaws for the clutch 50, for driving the opposite sprocket 42, are disposed oppositely from the faces of the clutch jaws just described, so that when one sprocket 42 is driven in one direction through its clutch, the clutch jaws for the other sprocket will be driven in a direction to disengage themselves. One sprocket 42 thus serves to swing the loading device in one direction, while the other sprocket serves t swing the loading device in an opposite direction upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the .motor 54 .A closure plate 59, secured to the bottomof the rimof said spur gear, closes the hollow inside of said spur gear and is secured thereto. .Sa'id closure plate has .an open central portion which is journaled on the bottom wall 48 coaxial with the vertical shaft 46. A spring 60 is interposed between the top of said closure plate and the bottom of said drive member 51, and acts in a direction to disengage the jaws 55 from the jaws 54 and to hold said clutch in a disengaged position. A cylinder 6| extends within the hollow central portion of the enlarged annular upper end of the shaft 46. Said cylinder has a flange 62 projecting laterally from its upper end, which is journaled in a central recessed portion of the drive member 5'! on balls 64, 5d. Said cylinder is slidably mounted on a piston 55 which projects upwardly therefrom through the spur gear 49. Said piston has an enlarged upper head portion 66, which is detachably secured to a top cover plate 68 for the gear housing. Said piston also has a bearing 10 mounted thereon, just beneath the cover plate 68, which forms a bearing means for the spur gear 69. A fluid passageway extends through said piston in the direction of its axis, for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to cause said cylinder to engage the jaws 55 with the jaws 54 and engage the clutch to drive the vertical shaft 46 and sprocket wheel 42.

The fluid motor 5| is mounted on the bottom plate 41 of the floating frame 39 and has a forwardly extending motor shaft 13 having a spur gear 14 keyed thereon. Said spur gear meshes with and drives a spur gear 75 keyed on th rear end of a longitudinally extending worm shaft 16. Said worm shaft is journaled in opposite walls Ti, 18 of the housing and support for the spur gears d5, 4% and has a worm 79 formed integrally therewith. Said worm meshes with and drives a worm gear 80 keyed on a vertical shaft 8|. Said vertical shaft is journaled at its lower end in a bearing support 83 and is journaled at its upper end in the cover plate 68, and is herein shown as having a spur gear 84 formed integrally therewith and disposed just beneath said cover plate. Said spur gear 84 drives the spur gears 59, 39 on oppositesides thereof through spur gears 85, 85, one of said spur gears being disposed on each side of said spur gear 84.

When it is desired to swing the extensible trough Ill and shovel II to the right, the righthand clutch 50 may be engaged by supplying fluid under pressure to its associated cylinder 5| through the piston 65, to move said cylinder downwardly along said piston. Fluid under pressure is also supplied to the motor 5| to cause said motor to drive the right-hand sprocket in a direction to cause said sprocket to travel along the chain 30 to the right. At the same time, fluid may be admitted to the head end of the cylinder 45 to engage the tension idler 43 with the bight of the chain 30 between the two sprockets 42, 42 and maintain tension on the slack side of said chain. The less steeply inclined faces of the jaws of the clutch 50 for the left-hand sprocket 42 on the slack side of the chain will be driven in a direction to engage each other. This will tend to disengag said clutch aided by the spring 60 and permit said sprocket to rotate freely. Said spring will then hold said clutch in a disengaged position.

When it is desired to swing the shovel H and extensible trough to the left, the clutch for the left-hand sprocket may be engaged by supplying fluid under pressure to its associated cylinder 6|, and the direction of rotation of the fluid motor is reversed. Fluid is released from the cylinder for operating the clutch for the right-hand sprocket and said sprocket will be disengaged by engagement of the less steeply inclined faces 6 of the teeth of its clutch with each other and by the associated spring 60, to permit the righthand sprocket to rotate freely. The left-hand sprocket will then move said extensible trough and shovel along the chain 30 to the left.

When it is desired to hold the shovel from lateral movement, especially when the apparatus is working along a laterally pitching floor, the two clutches 50 are engaged by their associated cylinders 6|, GI, and the valve for supplying fluid to the motor 5| is placed in a neutral position, to hold pressure on both sides of said motor and lock said motor and sprockets from rotation,

The cylinder 45 is mounted intermediate its ends in a bracket abutting and secured to the inner side of an end wall 96, extending across the forward end of the elongated frame 29. Fluid under pressure may be admitted to either end of said cylinder to move the tension idler 43 in a direction to hold the chain 30 under a predetermined tension, or to release tension of said chain when it is desired to move the apparatus or to set it up and secure the free ends of the chain 30 adjacent opposite ribs of the working place.

In the fluid diagram shown in Figure 8, a fluid storage tank 9'! is provided to su ly fluid to a pump 99. Said fluid storage tank and pump and the motor for driving said pump may be mounted on the stationary base 21 of the swivel 23. A pipe I00 connects said pump with a control valve |0|. Said control valve may be of a well known form of series type spool valve of a type similar to that shown in application Serial No. 600,950, filed by W. W. Sloane on June 22, 1945, and no part of my present invention so not herein shown or described in detail. Said valve is arranged to permit fluid to flow therethrough when in a neutral position and to hold pressure in the pipes leading from its pressure ports when in said position, so as to hold pressure in the hydraulic devices operated thereby when desired. Said control valve is connected with opposite sides of the fluid motor 5| through pipe IE2 or I03, for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor through either of said pipes, to drive said motor in one direction or another. When said valveis in a neutral position, fluid pressure will be held in the pipes I02 and I03 by said valve and the motor 5| will be hydraulically locked from rotation. A drain pipe I04 connects said motor 5| with a return pipe 15 leading to the tank 91, to return fluid to said tank which may leak by the rotors of said motor.

A relief valve I06 is connected in the pipe I00 and is set to by-pass fluid to the tank 91 upon overload conditions in the pressure line leading from said pump.

A pip I01 leads from the pipe Hill to supply fluid to operate the grip blocks 20, 20 of the feeder head 2| in the manner clearly shown and described in my aforementioned companion application. Fluid is returned from the grip block operating mechanism to the tank 91 through a return pipe I08.

A control valve 19 for supplying fluid under pressure to either of the cylinders 6|, 6| is connected in series with the control valve |0| through a pipe H0. Said control valve may be of a well known form of spool type 4-way control valve. A pipe I connects one pressure outlet of said control valve with the right-hand cylinder 6|. A pipe 2 connects the other pressure outlet of said control valve with the left-hand cylinder 6|. When said valve is in one extreme 7 osi on or the othe fl id will be supplied to ne y inde and release from the other, and said valve is; a, centralposition, fluid will; be supplied. to apply both clutches simul taneously. Fluid is returned to. the tank 91 through a return line H3 connected: with a pipe HA which ext nds f om a relief valve. M5 to. the ret rn lin 95.

A, control valve H1 for the cylinder 45: i connected with the pressure pipe H on thepressu-l-e side of the. relief valve H through a. pipe H3. Said control valve is like the control valv Ill-I and is. connected with. the. head end of thecylinder 45 to supply fluid under pressure thereto by means of a pipe H9. It. is also. connected with the piston. rod: end f said y n er t pp lu nder pressure thereto by means of a pipe H0.

The relief valve H5; connected in the pipe H s s to open. upon.- exoes ive pressures. in the. cylinders 5!, BI and the cylinder 45. Said reliet valve also permits the piston; rod 44. to move inwardly within the cylinder 45, to. relieve tension on the chain so, whentensionon said: chain exceeds a predetermined value, to permit the tension idler-43. to yield and compensate for varyins en n on a chain- The val-veslol andlllfi may be. connectedto operate; together so. that when, fluid is supplied to operate the right-hand clutch, the fluid motor 5i will rotate one direction, and when fluid. is suppli d to operate the left-hand clutch, the direction of said motorwillbe reversed. Also, when the valve I09 is-in; a osition to supply fluid under pressure to perate. both. clut hes. the val e HM: will be in position to hold pressure; on both sides of the motor 5L When this. condition arises, the. sprockets 4.2, 42 are locked from rotation by means of; said motor, which is hydraulically locked, to Positivelyhold the shovel It in fixed relation with respect to both ribs of the working place.

While I.- bave herein. showna-nd described: on form in which my invention. may be; embodied}, it. will be: understood that the constructionv thereof; and the; arrangement of. the various parts; may be altered With ut departin from the; spirit: and scope; thereof. Furthermore. I do not. wish to: be. construed as limiting my invent-ion tothe specifi embodiment illustrated, exceptin as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as myinvention:

1-,. In a shaker conveyor, areciprocatingtrough, an. extensible trough mounted for extensible or retractible movement withirespecttoisaid; reciproeating trough, a flexible fe ding member extending transverselybeneath said trou hs; and adapted to be fixedat its. ends; at. points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said; troughs; means disposed beneath. said extensibleand. reciprocatin trou hs f r movin said: troughs along. said flexible flooding: memberand feedin the, forward. end f; said extensible trough. laterally and means. en aging: said flexible feedin member: for maintaining t nsion on the. slack side of said flexible feeding member: during move-- ment; f said trough ther alon 2;. In av shaker convey r. a swiv ba reciprocating trough extendingfrom; said swivel and movable thereabout,. an extensible trou h having. a shovel on it forward end and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to said reciprocating trough, a flexible-feeding mem ber extending transversely beneath. said troughs and adapt o be; secured at its. e s at p ints spaced lateral y from oppo te sides of. said troughs, power means mounted beneath said ex-v tensible and reciprocating troughs for rotation, about an upright axis, said power means having operative engagement with, said, flexible feeding member for feeding said extensible trough and. shovel laterally along said flexible feeding. memher about said swivel, and other means having yieldable engagement with said flexible feedin member and operable to exert a predetermined pressure thereontomaintain tension on the slack sideot saidflexible feeding member during, movement of, said extensible trough along said flexible feeding member about said swivel.

3. In a shaker conveyor, a swivel, a reciprocating trough extending from said swivel and mov ablev thereabout, an extensible trough having a shovel on its forward end and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to, said reciprocating trough, a flexible feeding mem-. ber extending transversely beneath said troughv and, adapted to be secured at its ends at pointsv spaced laterally from opposite sides of said trough, power means mounted beneath said extensible and reciprocating troughs for rotation about. an upright axis, for feeding the forward end. of said extensible trough laterally along, said flexible feeding member about said swivel, and. other means having engagement. with said flexible feeding member and operable to exert a predetermined pressure thereon. to maintain tension on the slack side of said flexible feeding member during. movement of said extensible trough therealong including. cylinder and piston having operative engagement with said flexible feeding member.

4.. In a shaker conveyor, a. swivel, a reciprocating trough extending from said swivel and movable thereabout, an extensible trough having a shovel on its forward end and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to said reciprocating trough, aflexible feeding member extending transversely beneath said troughs and adapted. to. be secured at its ends at. points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, power means mounted beneath said extensible. and reciprocating troughs and having engagement. with said flexible feeding member for moving, said troughs along said flexible feed.- ing member including two. laterally spaced sprockets. rotatable about vertical axes, a motor, a. geared drive connection between said motor and said. sprockets for selectively driving said sprockets including a. separate clutch for each sprocket, said clutches being arranged to connect one of said sprockets with said motor to move said. extensible. trough in one direction along said flexible, feeding; member and to. connect the other of said, sprockets. with said motor when the direction of rotation of said motor is reversed, to move said extensible trough along said flexible feeding member in an opposite direction, and a compensating sheave engaging the bight of said flexible feeding member between said sprockets. and. movable in a, direction to. maintain tension on the slack side of said flexible feeding member and to compensate for diilerenees in length of said flexible feeding member caused by angular movement; of said extensible trough with respect to said flexible feeding member.

5;. In a shaker conveyor, av swivel, a reciprocating trough, extending from said swivel and movable thereabout, an extensible trough having a. shovel on its forward end and mounted for extensible. o1; retractible movement with respect to said reciprocating trough. a flexible feedin tensible :and reciprocating .tr oughs and having engagement with-saidflexible feeding members for moving said..troughs.-a1ong said flexible ieeding :member 2 including twovlaterally spaced sprockets rotatable :about vertical axes,. a. motor, a geared :10 motor and-permitting it to .run .free when 1 the control means-forsaid clutchltor said sprocketvon theslack-s'ide of "the chain is. in -areleased. position, and adcompensating sheave engagingthe bight "of saidachain between said vsprockets and urged. in a direction Lto maintain tension on the slacksideof saidichain and'ito compensate "for 'diiferencesfin length of said chain caused by angular movement of said reciprocating and exdrive connection between .saidimotor and .said no 'tensible troughs with respect'tosaid chain.

sprockets-for selectively driving said sprockets ineluding a separate clutch-for each-sprocket, said clutches being .arranged- .vto-connectsonelof said sprockets with: said motor. toimovei said extensible trough in one y direction along said .i'flexible f eeding member :andutouconnect .the other of said :Sprockets .withsaid motor whenrthefdirection of rotation of said motor is reversed, to move said extensibletrough alongs aidliexibleifeeding mem- 8'.'In a sel'f loading device 'for shaker convey- .or's,va reciprocating trough, an extensible trough having ashovel on its-'fo'rward end'and mounted .for extensible orretractible movement with respect to said reciprocatingtroughja flexible chain disposed beneath said extensible "and; reciprocat- 'ingtr'ou'ghs andladap'te'd to be. fixed "at its endsat "points "spaced" laterallyfrom opposite sides 'ofLsaid troughs, two laterally -spaced 'sprocketsmounted berinan.oppositeldirection and.acompensating f 20 beneath 'i'said extensibletrough and -havin'g'encylinder extending longitudinally of said extensible trough, said-compensatingcylinder having a sheave extensible therefrom and engaging 'the bight of said 'flexible -feeding .meniber between sai'drsprookets,v and urged in-a direction byfillid Under pressure Within said cylinder to maintain tensionuonthe slack sideof said cable an'd'operable to compensate 'fordi'fferencesinlength of said cable caused by 'angular'mov'ementiof said extensible trough about said "swiver 'with respect ttosaidfiexiblefeeding'member. Y

16.-'In a self-loading deviceforsh'aker conveyors, a reciprocating. trough-gen extensible trough having a shovel on-its forward endand mounted 'for extensible or retractible'movernent'with re- ;spect' to said recipro'catingtrough, afiexible chain disposed beneath said extensible and reciprocating troughs and adapted to be 'fixe'd at its ends .at points spaced laterally fromopposite sides of said troughs, "two laterally "spaced "sprockets mounted beneath'said extensible 'troughand having engagement with said chain for moving said extensible and reciprocating troughs about afixe'd point disposed rearwardly of said reciprocating trough, and a compensating sheave "engaging the bight'o'f *sai'd chain between'said sprocket for 'maintaining tension on the slack side'of *sai'd chain and compensating fordifferences inl'eng'th of 'said' chain caused by angular movement of said extensible and reciprocating troughs "with respect to said chain.

'7,'In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors, a reciprocating troughan extensibletroug'h .havin 'a shovel on'its' forward-endand mounted for extensible or retractible' movement'with respectto said reciprocating trough, afiexibl'e'ch'ain disposed beneath said extensible andreciprocat- .ing troughs and adapted" to be fixed at-its ends at points spaced laterally from'opposite sides of said troughs, two laterally spaced sprockets .mounted beneath said extensible troug'h and having engagements with said chain for'moving said extensible-and. reciprocatingtroughsabout a fixed point disposed rearwardly of said reciprocating trough, .a reversible fluid motor, a 'geareddrive connectionfrom'said' motor-to said sprockets for driving one of saidspro'cketswhen saidmo'tor is rotating in one direction and fordriving the other of said sprockets "when the direction'of rotation of said .moto'r isreversed, including'a separate clutch for eaehof saidsprockets-andselectively operable to drive either of said sprockets from said motor, depending upon the direction'of rotation of saidmotor,.and"positivelydisengaging' the sprocket onthe slacks'rde of said chain from" said j'gagement withsaid "chainfor movingsaid' extensible and "reciprocating troughs about a fixed point disposed rearwardly of said reciprocating trough, a reversible fluid motonya geareddrive connectionfrom saidmotofto said sprocketsfor driving one'of sai-dsprockets when said motor is rotating in onedirection and for driving the other of said sprockets when the direction of rotation of said "motor is reversed, in'cluding'a separate clutch for each or saids'pr'ock'ets and selectively operable to drive either "of said sprockets from sai -motor, depending upon th-e "direction of rotation of said motor, "and positively disengaging the sprocket 'onthe-s'lack'sideof said chain from said'motor and permitting said sprocket to run tree when the 'controlmeans "for i said clutch for said sprocket on-the slak' sideof the 'chain is in a releasedposition, ei-compensating fiuid'eylinder extending longitudinally of said reciprocating-and extensible troughs, and" having 'a piston movable "therein, 1 a sheave connected with said -"piston-' and extensible from said cylinder uponmovement of said piston .therealong, said sheave-havingem .gagem'ent 'with the bight of 'said chain between said sprockets and urged in-a direction I tomaintain tension on the slack side of said chain and to compensate -*for difference in length of said cable eaused-by angular movement"of-said reciprocating and extensible troughs with respect to said chain.

9. in a-self-doadirfgl device 'for shaker conveyors, a'reciprocating-troughyan extensibletroug'h having ashovel on its forward en'd'an'd mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect tOsaidIreciprOcating trorghyaflexible c'hain'disposed benea-th- 'said extensible and reciprocating troughs and adapted to be :fixed at *its ends "at ip'oints spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, two l'aterally tspaced sprockets :mounted beneath said extensible troughand having engagement with "said chain for nioving said extensible and reciprocating troughs about a =fixed 'point disposed rearwardly of said .re- "ciprocatin'g trough, a reversible fluid motor, 'a geared -fdrive"connection -from said 'motor *to said sprocketsro'r drivlngone of said sprockets when s'aidmotor is rotating in "one direction and 'for driving =the 0ther of :said spl'ockets when the direction ofirotation of" said motor :is reversed, including a separate clutch for each 'of said "sprockets andselectively operable to drive either or said sprockets from said motor, depending uponthe'direction of rotation of saidmoto'rgand positively disengaging the sprocket on the slack side or saidchain fromsai'dmot'orarid perrnitting 7, 11 i i said sprocket to run free when the control means for said clutch for said sprocket on the slack side of the chain is in a released position, fluid pressure actuated means selectively operable to move either or both of said clutches to an engaged position, valve means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to operate said motor in reverse directions, said valve means being arranged to block the flow of fluid from opposite sides of said motor, to lock said motor from rotation when said valve is in a neutral position, to permit said motor to hold both of said sprockets from rotation when said clutches are both engaged, to hold said reciprocating and extensible troughs in a fixed lateral position with respect to the workingia'ce, and a compensating sheave engaging the bight of said chain between said sprockets and urged in a direction to main-' tain tension on the slack'side of said chain and to compensate for the differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said reciprocating and extensible troughs with respect to said chain. 7

10. In a' self-loading device for shaker conveyors, a reciprocating trough, an extensible trough having a shovel on its forward end and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to said reciprocating trough, a flexible chain extending beneath said extensible and reciprocating troughs and adapted to be fixed at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, two laterally spaced sprockets mounted beneath said extensible trough and having engagement with said chain for moving said extensible and reciprocating troughs about a fixed point disposed rearwardly of said reciprocating trough, a reversible fluid motor, a geared drive connection from said motor to said sprockets for driving one of said sprockets when said motor is rotating in one direction and for driving the other of said sprockets when the direction of rotation of said motor is reversed, including a separate clutch for each of said sprockets and selectively operable to drive either of said sprock ets from said motor, depending upon the direction of rotation of said motor, and positively disengaging the sprocket on the slack side of said chain from said motor and permitting said sprocket to run free when the control means for ,said clutch for said sprocket on the slack side of the chain mm a released position, a compensating cylinder extending longitudinally of said reciprocating and extensible troughs, and having a piston movable therein, a sheave connected with said piston and extensible from said cylinder upon movement of said piston therealong, said sheave having engagement with the bight of said chain between said sprockets and urged in a direction to maintain tension on the slack side of said chain and to compensate for differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said reciprocating and extensible troughs with respect to said chain, valve means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder, and a relief valve permitting the release of fluid from said cylinder and movement of said sheave in a direction to relieve tension from said chain when tension on said chain exceeds a predetermined value,

11. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors, a reciprocating trough, an extensible trough having a shovel on its forward end and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to said reciprocating trough, a flexible chain disposed beneath said extensible and reciprocating troughs and adapted to be fixed at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, two laterally spaced sprockets mounted beneath said extensible trough and having engagement with said chain for moving said extensible and reciprocating troughs about a fixed point disposed rearwardly of said reciprocating trough, a reversible fluid motor, a geared drive connection from said motor to said sprockets for driving one of said sprockets when said motor is rotating in one direction and for driving the other of said sprockets when the direction of rotation of said motor is reversed, including a separate one way clutch for each of said sprockets and selectively operable to drive either of said sprockets from said motor, depending upon the direction of rotation of said motor, and positively disengaging the sprocket on the slack side of said chain from said motor and permitting said sprocket to run free when the control means for said clutch for said sprocket on the slack side of the chain is in a released position, fluid pressure actuated means selectively operable to move either or both of said clutches to an engaged position, valve means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to operate said motor in reverse directions, said valve means being arranged to block the flow of fluid from opposite sides of said motor to lock said motor from rotation when said valve is in a neutral position, to permit said motor to hold 'both of said sprockets from rotation when their associated clutches are engaged and hold said reciprocating and extensible troughs in a fixed lateral position along said chain, a compensating cylinder having a piston movable therein, a sheave connected with said piston and extensible from said cylinder upon movement of said piston therealong, said sheave having engagement with the bight of said chain between said sprockets and urged in a direction to maintain tension on the slack side of said chain and to compensate for differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said troughs with respect to said chain, valve means for admitting fluid under pressure to either end of said cylinder, and a relief valve permitting the release of fluid from said cylinder and movement of said sheave in a direction to relieve tension from said chain when tension on said chain exceeds a predetermined value.

12. In a device for laterally feeding the extensible trough of a shaker conveyor about a swivel in a conveyor trough line, a frame having connection with said swivel at its rear end and extending along and having engagement with opposite sides of said extensible trough, two laterally spaced sprockets mounted on the forward end of said frame, a motor mounted on said forward end of said frame, drive connections from said motor to said sprockets for driving one of said sprockets, in one direction, and the other of said sprockets in an opposite direction upon reversal of said motor, said sprocket which is not being driven by said motor being freely rotatable, a flexible chain engaging said sprockets and adapted to be fixed at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, and a compensating sheave for holding said chain in engagement with said sprockets and maintaining tension on the slack side of said chain and compensating for differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said extensible trough with respect to said chain.

13. In a device for laterally feeding the extensible trough of a shaker conveyor about a swivel in a conveyor trough line, a frame having connection with said swivel at its rear end and extending along and having engagement with opposite sides of said extensible trough, two laterally spaced sprockets mounted on the forward end of said frame beneath said extensible trough, a motor mounted on said forward end of said frame, drive connections from said motor to said sprockets for driving one of said sprockets in one direction, and the other of said sprockets in an opposite direction upon reversal of said motor, said sprocket which is not being driven by said motor being freely rotatable, a flexible chain engaging said sprockets and adapted to be fixed at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, a compensating cylinder mounted in said frame and extending longitudinally thereof, a sheave extensible from said cylinder upon the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder, said sheave having engagement with the bight of said chain between said sprockets for holding said chain in engagement with said sprockets. and maintaining tension on the slack side of said chain and compensating for differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said trough with respect to said chain.

14. In a device for laterally feeding the extensible trough of a shaker conveyor about a swivel in a conveyor trough line, a frame having connection with said swivel at its rear end and extending along and having engagement with opposite sides of said extensible trough, two laterally spaced sprockets mounted on the for- 14 ward end of said frame, a flexible chain engaging said sprockets and adapted to be fixed at its ends at points spaced laterally from opposite sides of said troughs, a compensating sheave for holding said chain in engagement with said sprockets and maintaining tension on the slack side of said chain and compensating for differences in length of said chain caused by angular movement of said extensible trough with respect to said chain, a reversible fluid motor mounted adjacent the forward end of said frame, a geared drive connection from said motor to said sprockets for driving one of said sprockets when said motor is rotating in one direction and for driving the other of said sprockets when the direction of rotation of said motor is reversed including a separate clutch for each of said sprockets, fluid pressure actuated means selectively operable to move either or both of said clutches to an engaged position, said clutches being so arranged as to positively disconnect the sprocket on the slack side of said chain from said motor, to permit said sprocket to run free when fluid is released from the fluid pressure means for operating its associated clutch, valve means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to operate said motor in reverse directions, said valve means being operable to hydraulically lock said motor from rotation, to permit said motor to hold both of said sprockets from rotation upon engagement of both of said clutches, to hold said extensible trough in a fixed lateral position with respect to the working face.

JOHN H. HOLSTEIN. 

